10 Common Habits That Seriously Damage Your Kidneys

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The kidneys have an enormous role when it comes to our health and well-being. Every day, these bean-shaped organs filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of waste and excess fluid.

The kidneys’ size is similar to that of a fist, and they are placed beneath the rib cage, each on one side of the spine. Their main responsibility is to manage the amounts of electrolytes in the body and produce hormones for healthy bones, red blood cells, and regulate blood pressure.

Oftentimes, there aren’t any symptoms of a damaged kidney, so it is important to learn how to take preventative measures and support the health of your kidneys.

Following are 10 of the most common habits that put a lot of pressure on these organs and eventually lead to severe kidney damage.

1. Excessive Animal Protein Intake

If you’re consuming too much animal protein (like red meat), all of the load from the metabolism is put on the kidneys. So the more protein you eat, the worse your kidneys will work.

2. Lack of Vitamins and Minerals.

The performance of the kidneys relies on your nutrition, what you eat. Meaning, if there’s a deficiency of some minerals or vitamins (for example, Magnesium and B6 vitamin), your kidneys may be performing at poorer levels.

3. Not Drinking Enough Water

If you’re not drinking the necessary amount of water, all the wasteful materials and toxins that usually leave your body with urine, begin to pile up in your body, which results in damaging the kidneys as well as other organs.

4. Excessive Alcohol Use

Given that alcohol pressures the kidneys and the liver, drinking more than 1 alcoholic beverage per day, a few times per week, can lead to damaging the kidneys.

5. Not Enough Sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep for a longer period of time, this can lead to a number of different health issues, one of which is a disease of the kidneys. While your body’s resting in sleep, the kidneys’ damaged tissues are being repaired, so make a good night’s sleep your priority.

6. Holding Urine

Not peeing when you need to often increases pressure which might cause kidney stones and kidney failure.

7. Excessive Sugar Intake

Research has shown that people who consume more than 2 sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine, which is a sign that their kidneys aren’t performing properly.

8. Painkillers Abuse

People often use prescription pills to treat a certain pain, but the truth is, these drugs are filled with harmful chemicals, meaning they can often have an even more complicated result. Severe damage to the kidneys and liver are only two of the many aftermaths.

9. Too Much Coffee

Too much caffeine causes stress on the kidneys and raises blood pressure, which can eventually lead to severe kidney damage.

10. Excessive Salt Intake

High amounts of sodium in the organism can also damage the kidneys as sodium increases blood pressure.

The video below has Dr. Axe explaining how to keep your kidneys cleansed so they can perform at their best.